Neuros Solicits Help From AppleTV Hackers

JoeBorn writes "Highlighting the fact that Neuros officially encourages contributions to its open source device (GPL), it has published an open letter soliciting the help of AppleTV hackers. 'The transition to IPTV creates a golden opportunity to ensure that the gateway to the TV set becomes open to all.' Neuros draws a connection between open source and free media, and attempts to articulate why an open box can extend the freedom of the internet to the TV set."

Re:is this better than an XBMC?

[casings]

http://wiki.neurostechnology.com/index.php/Neuros_ OSD [neurostechnology.com]

The ethernet port is only 10/100, and I highly doubt that it is upgradable via firmware.

Re:is this better than an XBMC? YES

[WarwickRyan]

It adds one significant feature: it can record.

Otherwise, there's nothing else on the market that is as good as Xbox Media Center.

Personally, I've bought a spare Xbox (on the £50 deal you're talking about) as a backup for my current XBMC box.

Re:Why?

[0xdeadbeef]

Wow, that's great! So I just put the Ubuntu disc in the CD-ROM and... uh... Ok, I plug a USB drive in the USB connector and... WTF? I guess I have to mount it as a network share... um... Well, then, it must have a serial port for debugging and reflashing... fuck!

The Neuros Technology Looks a Bit Outdated

[Junior Samples]

According to their Wiki http://wiki.neurostechnology.com/index.php/Neuros_ OSD [neurostechnology.com] The Neuros product doesn't support ATSC or any of the High Definition formats.

I would be extremely interested in a set top box that can play files directly from my network drive in any format that WinDVD is capable of playing, and output video in 1080i, 720p, 480i, and other popular TV line rates. I don't want to have to download the file to the STB's local drive or have to run special video streaming software. I just want to mount the network drive to the STB and point to the file to play. Fancy menus and play lists are optional.

Hardware outputs should include the latest version of HDMI, DVI-D/I, VGA, Component and Y/C (S-Video). I want it to work with any monitor or TV that I have laying around. Optionally, an ATSC tuner can be added for digital recording / PVR capability. And of course, there should be no trace of DRM.

Apple-TV isn't there. The hacks are a start, but there's a long way to go.

There's a big market out there for this type of equipment waiting to be tapped.